Fixture for installing sinks and the like



Aug. 30, 1966 s. H. RILEY 3,258,994

FIXTURE FOR INSTALLNG SINKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 4, 1963 United States Patent O 3,268,994 FIXTURE FOR INSTALLING SINKS AND THE LIKE S. Harold Riley, 1702 Forest Hill, Houston, Tex. uned nce. 4, 1963, ser. No. 327,999 7 (Claims. (Cl. 29--244) This invention relates to a fixture or jig for use in installation of sinks, lavatories, and the like.

In the installation of sinks, lavatories and similar articles, these devices will normally be mounted in an opening provided in a table or counter top and the like. It is most important that the sink or lavatory be supported in the opening at the proper position while the necessary clamps, bolts or other fastening devices are secured, in order to m-aintain the sink in its iinal desired location. Also, it .is important that the position of the sink be properly fixed while the iinishing of the surrounding table or work surface is completed, to eliminate unsightly cracks and imperfections in the joints between the usual flange surrounding the sink or lavatory y'and the surrounding table or like surface.

The present invention is directed to a novel form of tixture or jig by which sinks, lavatories, and the like may be eieetively levelled, and supported during their installation.

An important object is the provision of an installation fixture which includes a frame arranged to span the opening in the table or counter top in which the sink or lavatory is to be positioned, and vertically adjustable hanger rods supported on the fname and carrying cross-arms for supporting the sink from the frame.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates one useful embodiment in accordance with this invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of the device shown supporting a dual sink;

FIG. 2 is an end View taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally valong line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a detail of the hanger element of the device.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a table or counter top, or the like, T, indicated in broken lines, and provided with an opening H adapted to receive a conventional dual sink S comprising a pair of bowls S1 and S2 connected and separated by a partition wall P. The upper end of the sink may be provided with'the usual peripheral iiange F which will eventually serve to support the sink on brackets, or the like, commonly mounted in opening H. In the center of the bottom of each of the sink bowls is an opening O conventionally provided to receive the drain connection for the sink bowl.

The fixture, in accordance with this invention, comprises a frame, designated generally by the numeral 10, which includes a horizontally disposed bar 11 of a length sutiicient to span opening H. Each end of bar 11 is secured to a pedestal member consisting of a pair of angularly spaced downwardly extending legs 12-12 adapted to rest on table T and secured to a fitting, designated generally by the numeral 13, mounted in bar 11. Bar 11 and legs 12 are preferably of tubular form. Fitting 13 comprises the hollow cross-arm 14 adapted to slidably receive bar 11 and -oppositely angularly extending sockets 15. It will be understood that the ends of sockets 1S may be provided with internal threads co-operating with correspondingly threaded portions on the ends of legs 12 by means of which the latter may be readily attached to and removed from the fitting. A third leg 16 may be screwed to the outer end of cross-arm 14 of fitting 13 3,258,994 Patented August 30, 1966 ICC or may be an extension of bar 11, to provide means by which the ends of the frame may be spaced from vertically extending walls which may be present in the vicinity of the area in which the sink is to be installed. Each of the legs 12 and 16 will preferably be tipped with rubber caps 17, which are useful in preventing marring or scratching of the surfaces, `such as tile, plastic or paint, with which the frame may be in contact.

Bar 11 is adapted to support one or more vertically disposed hanger members, designated generally by the numeral 18. Each of the hanger members 18 includes a hanger rod 23 and a support bracket, designated generally by the numeral 19. The latter comprises a short horizontal sleeve 20 having a bore 21 adapted to slidably surround bar 11, and a vertical sleeve 22 xedly secured, as by welding, to sleeve 20. Hanger rod 23 is provided with external threads 24 substantially throughout its length and extends through the bore of vertical sleeve 22 and is adjustably supported on the upper end of vertical sleeve 22 by means of a wing nut 26 threaded on the hanger rod and bearing on :a washer 25 surrounding rod 23 and seated on the upper end of sleeve 22. With this arrangement `it will be seen that as the wing nut is rotated, hanger rod 23 will be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction of rotations of the wing nut.

At is lower end hanger rod 23 carries cross-arm 27, which may be of tubular construction, and having `a length greater than the diameter of openings O in the sink bowls. Cross-arm 27 is provided centrally thereof with a pair of laterally spaced upwardly extending, generally ilat lugs 28 between which the lower end of hanger rod 23 extends and to which the rod is pivotally secured by means of a transverse pivot pin 29. The side edges of lugs 28 may be outwardly sloping and the upper corners are preferably rounded at 30. A thrust washer 31 surrounds the lower end portion of hanger rod 23 and bears against the upper end faces of lugs 2S. An adjusting nut 32 is threadedly mounted on hanger lrod 23 a short distance above washer 31, and a coil spring 33 is mounted in compression between washer 31 and nut 32. A second washer 34 may be positioned about rod 23 between nut 32 and spring 33. Adjustment of the pressure of spring 33 on the upper ends of lugs 28 may be varied by means of the nut 32, for purposes which will be made evident hereinafter. lA seeond coil spring 35 may be mounted between the lower end of vertical sleeve 22 and nut 32 and serves a limited purpose, namely, to hold bracket 19 in a vertically spaced position relative to adjusting nut 32 when the hanger rods and brackets 19 are removed from bar 11, so that the brackets will be maintained in a generally aligned relation for receiving bar 11 when assembly of the fixture is to be accomplished.

While the illustrative embodiment shows two hanger members 18 mounted on bar 11, it will be evident that this arrangement is employed where a dual-bowl sink, such as that illustrated, is to be installed. It will be evident, however, that where a single bowl sink is to be positioned, only one of the hanger members will be necessary. Obviously, if there are more than two bowls in a sink structure, a corresponding number of hangers may be positioned on bar 11.

In operation, the requis-ite number of hanger members 18 will be installed on bar 11 and legs 12y and 16 put in position on the ends of the bar. In the case of the dualbowl sink, as shown in FIG. l, two of the hanger members 18 will be positioned in properly spaced relation to align the 4hanger rods with openings O in the respective bowls. Cross-arm 27 w-ill be rotated about pivot pins 29 to a generally upright position (FIG. 4) in order to enable these cross-arms to pass through openings O. The pressure of coil springs 33, acting through washers 31 in co-operation with the rounded corners 30 and ythe ends and sides of lugs 28 functioning as cams will act to retain the crossarms in the tipped or upwardly rotated position, so that the cross-arms may pass through openings O without catching on the edges thereof. When the cross-arms have passed through openings O they may be turned back to their horizontal position and again the pressure of springs 33 will retain them in this horizontal posit-ion at which the cross-arms will span openings O and bear upwardly against the surrounding portions of the bowls. The sink may then be levelled and moved to the exact position desired by suitable adjustment of wing nuts 26, by rotation of which, las noted previously, hanger rods 23 may be raised and lowered, as desired, thereby raising and lowering the sink S, as required.

By means of the fixture in accordance with this invention, it will be evident the sinks, lavatories, and the like may be rapidly and efficiently positioned for installation with ya minimum expenditure of labor and with a high degree of accuracy in their location. Moreover, where the sink is to be installed in a previously finished table or counter top, it will be seen that the danger of damaging the finished surrounding surfaces will be greatly reduced.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications `may be made in the details of the `illustrative embodiment within the scope of the appended claims but without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An installation fixture for sinks and the like, comprising, a horizontally disposed frame adapted to span an opening in a table or the -like in which a sink is to be mounted, said frame comprising a horizontally disposed bar and 4longitudinally spaced pairs of angularly disposed leg members secured to said bar for supporting said bar in elevated relation to said table, a vertically disposed hanger member including an externally threaded hanger rod, bracket means comprising a horizontally disposed sleeve slidable on said bar and a vertically disposed sleeve `secured to the horizontal sleeve and having a bore through which said hanger rod slidably extends, a cross-arm member carried by the lower end of said hanger rod connectible to a sink, pivoted connection means between said crossarm member and said hanger rod permitting said crossarm member to rock between a generally upright position and a transverse position, and means carried by said bracket member for adjusting the hanger rod vertically relative to said frame.

2. A fixture according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises a nut member threaded on said hanger rod and bearing on the upper end of said vertically disposed sleeve.

3. An installation fixture for sinks and the like, cornprising a horizontally disposed frame adapted to span an opening in a table or the like in which a sink is to be mounted, .a vertically disposed hanger member, bracket means supporting said hanger lmember from said frame and slidable longitudinally of said frame, a cross-arm member carried by the lower end of said hanger member, pivoted connection means between said cross-arm member and said hanger Imember permitting said crossarm member to .rock between a generally upright position and a transverse position, resilient thrust means on the hanger member cooperating with said cross-arm member to resist rotation of the latter from one of said positions to the other, and means carried by said bracket member for adjusting the hanger member vertically relative to said frame.

4. A fixture according to claim 3 wherein said hanger member includes an externally threaded hanger rod, and said pivoted connection means comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart lug members extending upwardly from the center of said cross-arm member `on opposite sides of the `lower end of said hanger rod, and a pivot pin extending transversely through said members and said lower end of the hanger rod.

5. A fixture according to claim 4 wherein said resilient v thrust means comprises la coil compression spring disposed References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 515,158 2/1894 Oneill 254-99 1,683,757 9/1928 Brauer 29--256 2,408,560 10/1946 Keehn 29-238 X 2,746,062 5/ 1956 Waltz. 2,988,330 6/1961 Allison.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INSTALLATION FIXTURE FOR SINKS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FRAME ADAPTED TO SPAN AN OPENING IN A TABLE OR THE LIKE IN WHICH A SINK IS TO BE MOUNTED, SAID FRAME COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BAR AND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PAIRS OF ANGULARLY DISPOSED LEG MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID BAR FOR SUPPORTING SAID BAR IN ELEVATED RELATION TO SAID TABLE, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED HANGER MEMBER INCLUDING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED HANGER ROD, BRACKET MEANS COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SLEEVE SLIDABLE ON SAID BAR AND A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SLEEVE SECURED TO THE HORIZONTAL SLEEVE AND HAVING A BORE THROUGH 